¡Arriba Cinco de Mayo!

The best places to eat, drink and get festive on and around May 5

By Darcie Duttweiler

Cinco de Mayo may fall on a Monday this year (boo!), but that doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate the Mexican holiday properly. While you may be so inclined to just kick back with either a cerveza or a margarita and a taco and call it a Cinco de Celebration, there are so many amazing events happening around town that are sure to be more fun than cracking open a piñata. Ándale, amigos!

Cinco de Mayo Austin

The official Cinco de Mayo fiesta of Austin is celebrating its ninth year. Head to Fiesta Gardens Park on Saturday or Sunday to commemorate one of Mexico’s historical victories and celebrate the rich Mexican culture and heritage. The two-day event will feature a variety of Tejano and Conjunto bands, festival food fare, Mexican specialties and more.

La Condesa Downtown Block Party

The downtown restaurant is going all out for its block party on Sunday, May 4. From 1 to 9 p.m., you can enjoy an array of food and beverages provided by the eatery and other local vendors, as well as family-friendly activities, such as face painting, balloon-making, dancing and live music from Este Vato, Bombasta, Dj Chicken George & Chorizo Funk, Celsius, Vitera and more. Of course, you can also enjoy La Condesa’s famous margaritas and aqua frescas and beverages from Cazadores Tequila, Dos XX and Tecate.

¡Three Amigos! Quote-Along at Alamo Drafthouse

If you’re muy triste about working on Cinco de Mayo, you can still have a plethora of fun with El Jefe and the three amigos of Chevy Chase, Steve Martin and Martin Short at the Alamo Drafthouse’s¡Three Amigos! Quote-Along. Prep your own mariachi outfit and prepare to sing along with the singing cactus.

Drink Specials from Some of Your Favorite Bars

Much like St. Patrick’s Day, you’re bound to throw a rock and find a great drink special to celebrate the auspicious occasion. Here are just a smattering of the great deals you’ll find around town.

At Benji’s Cantina, you can enjoy happy hour drinks, food specials and half off bottles of champagne while being serenaded by a mariachi band.

Black Sheep Lodge will have drink specials on cucumber and spicy margaritas, as well as tequila samplings.

Put on a mustache for Gibson’s Mustache Monday de Mayo Party and enjoy awesome drink specials. The guest with the best Cinco de Mayo Mustachio will win a special prize. If you’re unable to grow a mustache, don’t fret; they’ll be passing some out.